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SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new formulation of a drug made by Genentech for rheumatoid arthritis that can be injected into the skin.

Genentech announced the approval of a subcutaneous formulation of Actemra (tocilizumab) in adults for adults with moderate RA who have not found sufficient relief by taking such disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs as methotrexate. Like the intravenous formulation of Actemra, the new version can be used alone or with drugs like methotrexate.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has granted breakthrough therapy designation to an experimental drug made by Merck for hepatitis C, the drug maker said.

NEW YORK — An experimental drug under development by Gilead Sciences for hepatitis C is safe and effective when combined with other treatments, according to a review posted on the Food and Drug Administration's website ahead of an expert panel meeting to take place Friday.

NEWARK, Calif. — Drug maker Depomed has sold its interests in royalty and milestone payments for several Type 2 diabetes drugs to PDL BioPharma, Depomed said.

The drug maker announced that it had sold its interest in the Type 2 diabetes therapeutic area to PDL for $240.5 million, which it plans to use to acquire rights to products it said would drive long-term growth and build on its expertise in pain and neurology.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration plans to complete its phase out of inhalers that contain ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons by the end of the year, the agency said Wednesday.

NEW YORK — The state Senate of Pennsylvania will vote on a bill to curb misuse of prescription drugs, according to published reports.

The Beaver County, Pa., Times reported that Pennsylvania House Bill 1694 cleared the lower house of the state legislature in a 191-7 vote. The bill is designed to stop doctor-shopping and pill mills by creating an electronic prescription drug database to track drugs dispensed by doctors and veterinarians. Doctors and pharmacists can then use it to verify patients' medication histories.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Biotech drug maker Amgen has acquired from Roche the rights to drugs used to boost the immune systems of cancer patients on chemotherapy in 100 markets.

SAN ANTONIO — Mission Pharmacal Co. has announced the launch of prescription-only Aquoral, a dry-mouth relief oral spray that promises to moisten and lubricate the mouth for up to four hours.